PETER AUSTWICK 1928-2009

Peter Austwick died on Saturday 31st January. For the past two years he had been ill with pancreatic cancer.

Anyone who met Peter could not fail to recognise that he was a man of great charm and courtesy. Those who knew him a little better took pleasure in the luminous intelligence and dry wit which made him such a delightful companion. Although increasingly frail, these qualities never deserted him. Even in the final few weeks of his life he maintained a keen interest in events both local and national. He would set himself survival targets, the last one he achieved being to see the inauguration of Barack Obama as US President.

As most will know, Peter was a very talented player who, in partnership with Valerie, enjoyed many bridge triumphs at national level. They won the Pachabo, the Hubert Phillips, and on several occasions reached the ‘A’ final at the Brighton Congress. Peter was the inventor (and continual upgrader) of the highly complex Precision system that he and Valerie played. This was the apple of his eye. Even in his last days he was working on refinements, albeit fully aware that these would never be put into practice. Peter also loved analysing play problems, especially those involving squeezes. In his later years he derived at least as much pleasure from this as he did from playing. Even when too ill to play he appreciated the opportunity to bid and play hands from local events, and Pat routinely provided him and Valerie with hands for this purpose.

To play bridge alongside Peter was a privilege. He loved the game, and was highly competitive, but the spirit in which the game was played was of equal importance as far as he was concerned. He was a keen observer of his fellow men and women, and behind his mild manner there lay an amused appreciation of the foibles of his fellow bridge players. He enjoyed talking about them as much as he enjoyed analysing hands.

Peter could become exasperated at some of the goings-on in the bridge world, but he nonetheless contributed generously as an administrator. He was Chairman of Somerset, and for many years he was also a member of the Bristol Bridge Club committee. He later took on the role of Chairman of the Bristol club at a notably difficult time in that club’s history when there was a real risk of its becoming insolvent. He was a brilliantly successful Chairman, ensuring that sensible decisions were taken whilst managing not to alienate those wishing to do the opposite – a rare gift indeed. Following their retirement he and Valerie opted to play most of their club bridge at Bath, but Peter continued to score the monthly handicap and open pairs events played at the Bristol club.

Peter was a fine player, but above all he was a fine man whose companionship enriched the lives of all who knew him. Everyone who had contact with Peter will miss him, but our thoughts are particularly with Valerie, with Richard and Jacqui, and with those privileged to be Peter’s closest friends.